U.S. patent application number 13/088978 was filed with the patent office on 2011-10-20 for food processing vat with a clean-in-place vent.
Invention is credited to Timothy J. Isenberg, John E. Zirbel.
Application Number | 20110253730 13/088978 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44148680 |
Filed Date | 2011-10-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110253730 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Isenberg; Timothy J. ; et
al. |
October 20, 2011 |
Food Processing Vat With A Clean-In-Place Vent
Abstract
A food processing vat is provided with a vent that can be
automatically cleaned in place, without requiring manual cleaning
by a technician or removal of the vent from the vat. A nozzle is
mounted to at least one of the vent and the vat and has an
opening(s) that is posited with respect to the vent to direct
cleaning fluid into the vent. The vent may include a canister that
concentrically surrounds at least a portion of a vent tube that is
fluidly connected to the vat, which collects cleaning fluid and/or
condensate from gas that enters or exits the vat.
Inventors: |
Isenberg; Timothy J.;
(Marshfield, WI) ; Zirbel; John E.; (Marshfield,
WI) |
Family ID: |
44148680 |
Appl. No.: |
13/088978 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61325612 |
Apr 19, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/745 ;
222/148 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B08B 9/00 20130101; B01F
7/042 20130101; B01F 7/022 20130101; B08B 9/093 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/745 ;
222/148 |
International
Class: |
B65D 90/34 20060101
B65D090/34 |
Claims
1. A food processing vat system comprising: a vat defining an
inside space therein; a vent attached to the vat and fluidly
connecting the inside space of the vat to the ambient so as to
maintain a pressure within the vat at an ambient pressure; and a
nozzle being configured to convey a cleaning fluid therethrough and
mounted to at least one of the vent and the vat, the nozzle having
an opening that is positioned with respect to the vent so as to
direct the cleaning fluid into the vent while the vent remains
attached to the vat.
2. The food processing vat system of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is
positioned inside of the vent.
3. The food processing vat system of claim 2, the vent defining a
body thereof and further comprising a lid that is positioned with
respect to the vent body such that (i) vented fluid that flows out
of the vat can flow between the vent body and the lid so that the
vented fluid can exit the vent, and (ii) cleaning fluid that is
delivered out of the nozzle cannot flow between the vent body and
the lid so that the cleaning fluid remains in the vent body or
flows into the vat.
4. The food processing vat system of claim 3, wherein the nozzle is
positioned below an upper edge of the vat body.
5. The food processing vat system of claim 3, the vent further
comprising a nozzle tube that extends through the lid and holds the
nozzle inside of the vent.
6. The food processing vat system of claim 3, wherein the lid
includes (i) a lid lower portion that overlaps at least part of an
upper end of the vent body, and (ii) a lid upper portion that is
spaced from the upper end of the vent body.
7. The food processing vat system of claim 6, wherein the lid lower
portion (i) longitudinally overlaps at least part of the upper end
of the vent body, and (ii) is transversely spaced from the upper
end of the vent body.
8. The food processing vat system of claim 3, the vent body further
comprising a tube that extends between the vat and the lid of the
vent and directs the vented fluid from the vat to the vent.
9. The food processing vat system of claim 8, the vent body further
comprising a canister around the tube so as to define an annular
passage between the tube and the canister and through which the
vented fluid can flow.
10. The food processing vat system of claim 9, the canister having
a side wall and further comprising a slanted lower wall that
extends angularly with respect to the canister side wall such that
corresponding portions of the slanted lower wall, tube, and
canister side wall define a collection chamber that can collect
condensate that condenses out of the vented fluid.
11. The food processing vat system of claim 10, the vent body
further comprising a drain that extends through the canister side
wall and into the collection chamber for removing condensate from
the vent.
12. The food processing vat system of claim 11, wherein the
condensate includes water and non-water materials that were
suspended in the vented fluid.
13. The food processing vat system of claim 9, wherein a lower
portion of the tube extends beyond the canister and has a solid
side wall and a portion of the tube that is provided within the
canister has a perforated side wall.
14. The food processing vat system of claim 13, the canister
further comprising a lower wall that extends generally radially
toward and connects to the tube.
15. The food processing vat system of claim 14, wherein the
canister lower wall connects to the tube at a location on the tube
that generally defines a division line between the solid side wall
of the tube and the perforated side wall of the tube.
16. The food processing vat system of claim 14, wherein the
canister lower wall is slanted so that different depths of the
annular passage are defined at different locations about a
periphery of the tube.
17. The food processing vat system of claim 16, the vent further
comprising a drain that extends through the canister side wall at a
location that corresponds to a deepest portion of the annular
passage.
18. A food processing vat system comprising: a vat defining an
inside space therein; a vent attached to the vat and fluidly
connecting the inside space of the vat to the ambient so as to
maintain a pressure within the vat to an ambient pressure and to
direct vented fluid that flows out of the vat to the ambient; and a
nozzle that is mounted in a generally fixed position and delivers
cleaning fluid inside of the vent while the vent remains attached
to the vat.
19. The food processing vat system of claim 18, wherein the vent
includes a vent body having a tube and a container that surrounds
at least a portion of the tube.
20. The food processing vat system of claim 18, the vent further
comprising a collar between the tube and container, and being
configured to deflect cleaning fluid that is delivered from the
nozzle such that the cleaning fluid remains in the vent body or
flows into the vat and does not exit the vent.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of and claims priority
from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/325,612 filed
on Apr. 19, 2010, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated
by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to food processing vats and, more
particularly, to vents that are used with food processing vats.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] Vents that are mounted to food processing vats are known in
the food processing industries. Such vents fluidly connect an
inside space within the vat to the ambient.
[0006] Clean-in-place systems for use with food processing vats are
also known in the food processing industries. Such clean-in-place
systems automatically spray cleaning fluid, in liquid form, inside
of food processing vats.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The inventors have recognized that in typical food
processing vats, the clean-in-place systems have been primarily
designed to clean the inside walls of the vat and large mechanicals
that are housed in the vat, such as agitator shafts, while other
parts of the overall vat systems have not been cleaned with these
clean-in-place systems. The inventors have also recognized that in
typical food processing vats, vents must be manually cleaned by
technicians and, at times, require removal of the vents for
thorough cleaning, which can be substantially time consuming. The
inventors have further recognized that typical vents have side
walls with relatively small surface areas upon which to condense
out water or other condensate from the vapor or vented fluid that
flows out of the vat. The present invention contemplates a vent for
a food processing vat that addresses these and other problems and
drawbacks of the prior art.
[0008] In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a food
processing vat system is provided with a vent that is attached to a
vat and fluidly connects an inside space of the vat to the ambient
so as to maintain a pressure within the vat at an ambient pressure
and/or to direct a vented fluid that flows out of the vat to the
ambient. A nozzle that is configured to convey a cleaning fluid
through it is mounted to at least one of the vent and the vat, and
may be mounted in a generally fixed position. The nozzle has an
opening that is positioned with respect to the vent so that the
nozzle directs the cleaning fluid into the vent while the vent
remains attached to the vat. This allows the vent to be cleaned in
place, without requiring manual cleaning by a technician.
[0009] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
nozzle is positioned inside of the vent. The vent may define a vent
body having an upper edge and the nozzle may be positioned below
the upper edge of the vent body. The vent may include a lid, and
the vent may further include a nozzle tube that extends through the
lid and holds the nozzle inside of the vent. This may also allow
the vent to be cleaned in place, without requiring manual cleaning
by a technician.
[0010] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the vent
defines a vent body and a lid that is positioned with respect to
the vent body such that (i) vented fluid that flows out of the vat
can flow between the vent body and the lid so that the vented fluid
can exit the vent, and (ii) cleaning fluid that is delivered out of
the nozzle cannot flow between the vent body and the lid so that
the cleaning fluid remains in the vent body or flows into the vat.
The lid may include a lid lower portion that longitudinally
overlaps at least part of an upper end of the vent body and is
transversely spaced from the upper end of the vent body. A lid
upper portion may be spaced from the upper end of the vent body.
The lid may be maintained by spring clips in such a position with
respect to the vent body. This may allow the vented fluid that
flows out of the vat to be directed to the ambient while
maintaining any cleaning fluid that is sprayed in the vent to
remain in the vent or flow into the vat.
[0011] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the vent
further includes a collar that is positioned with respect to the
nozzle and the lid so that the cleaning fluid that is delivered out
of the nozzle is deflected by the collar to prevent the cleaning
fluid from exiting the vent. The collar may be connected to and
extend downwardly from a lower surface of the lid, spaced radially
inside of an outer perimeter of the lid. The vent body may include
a tube that is housed concentrically inside of a canister, and the
collar may be concentrically aligned between the tube and
container. This may allow the collar to deflect cleaning fluid that
is delivered from the nozzle so that the cleaning fluid remains in
the vent body or flows into the vat, without spraying outside of
the vent.
[0012] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the vent
is removably attached to the vat. The vent may be attached to the
vat with a clamp that holds a pair of flanges that are provided at
respective ends of the vent tube, and a vat tube that is fixed to
the vat. This may permit quick removal of the vent from the vat for
occasional servicing and maintenance.
[0013] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the vent
tube extends between the vat or vat tube and the lid of the vent,
directing the vented fluid from the vat to the vent. A lower
portion of the vent tube may extend beyond the canister and define
a solid side wall. An upper portion of the vent tube may be
provided within the canister and may have a perforated side wall.
The openings or perforations of the perforated side wall may be
configured to diffuse streams of the cleaning fluid that is
delivered by the nozzle, so that the cleaning fluid is spread out
and applied to substantially an entire inner surface(s) area of the
vent. This may allow a nozzle to be used near the walls of the vent
while delivering cleaning fluid across substantially the entire
walls of the vent.
[0014] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
canister extends concentrically around the vent tube so as to
define an annular passage between the vent tube and the canister
and through which the vented fluid can flow. The canister may
further include a lower wall that extends generally radially toward
and connects to the vent tube. The lower wall of the canister may
connect to the vent tube at a location on the vent tube that
generally defines a division line between the solid side wall of
the vent tube and the perforated side wall of the vent tube. This
may allow the cleaning fluid to be diffused through the perforated
side wall of the vent tube, spreading out its application through
the vent, while retaining the cleaning fluid within the vent or
allowing it to flow into the vat.
[0015] According to another aspect of the invention, the canister
lower wall is slanted so that different depths of the annular
passage are defined at different locations about a periphery of the
vent tube. The slanted lower wall may extend angularly with respect
to the canister side wall so that corresponding portions of the
slanted lower wall, vent tube, and canister side wall define a
collection chamber that can collect condensate that condenses out
of the vented fluid. The collection chamber may also collect the
cleaning fluid that remains in the vent and does not flow into the
vat. The vent may include a drain that extends through the canister
side wall at a location that corresponds to a deepest portion of
the annular passage. This may allow removal of condensate,
including water and non-water materials that may be suspended in
the vented fluid, the cleaning fluid, and/or other substances that
may collect in the collection chamber to be removed from the
vent.
[0016] Various other features, objects, and advantages of the
invention will be made apparent from the following description
taken together with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated
of carrying out the invention.
[0018] In the drawings:
[0019] FIG. 1 is an isometric view from above and in front of a vat
system incorporating a clean-in-place vent in accordance with the
present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is an isometric view from above and in back of the
vat system of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the vat system of FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the vat system of FIG.
1;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the vent of the vat system of
FIG. 1, taken at line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and
[0024] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the vent of the vat system of
FIG. 1, taken at line 6-6 of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a vat system 5 that can be used for
processing food and related products (collectively referred to as
"vat contents") by mechanically manipulating and heating or cooling
the vat contents, depending on the particular food or related
product being processed. In a representative application, the vat
system 5 may be used in the production of cheese, although it is
understood that the vat system 5 may be used in processing other
types of food products. The vat system 5 includes a vat 7 that has
an agitation system 40 which performs the mechanical manipulation
tasks by rotating a pair of shafts upon which blade assemblies are
mounted, and a zoned heat transfer system 50 to perform heating
and/or cooling to provide zoned temperature control to the vat
7.
[0026] Vat 7 defines an enclosure having a top wall 10, a bottom
wall 11, and side walls 14, 15, all of which extend longitudinally
between a pair of end walls 18 and 19. The walls 10, 11, 14, 15,
18, 19 are multilayered, having an outer jacket 20 and an inner
shell 25 that are spaced from each other. Insulation and various
components of the zoned heat transfer system 50 are housed between
the jacket 20 and shell 25. The shell 25 is the innermost structure
of the vat 7, so that its inner surface surrounds and defines an
outer periphery of a void or inside space 8 within the vat 7. A
lower part of the inside space 8 resembles two horizontal parallel
cylinders that transversely intersect each other, being defined by
a lower portion of the shell 25 that has a pair of arcuate
depressions which extend along the length of the vat 7, on opposing
sides of a longitudinally extending raised middle segment. From the
lower portion of the shell 25, opposing side portions extend in an
outwardly bowed manner, arching away from each other in a
transverse direction of the vat 7. An upper portion of the shell 25
arcs gradually between side portions of the shell 25 and defines an
upper perimeter of the inside space 8 of vat 7.
[0027] Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, operation of the zoned heat
transfer system 50 alters the temperature of the inside space 8 of
vat 7, which correspondingly changes a volume of the gases within
the inside space 8 of vat 7. Vent 60 allows the vat 7 to breathe,
accommodating the changing volume of gases without changing a
pressure within the vat 7 so as to keep the pressure of the inside
space 8 of the vat at the ambient pressure.
[0028] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, vent 60 includes a vent body
62 that is defined by a vent tube 70 and a container or canister
80, and a lid 100 that sits over the vent body 62. A nozzle 90 that
sprays a cleaning fluid, which may be in a liquid form, is
positioned with respect to the vent tube 70, canister 80, and lid
100 so that the cleaning fluid that exits the nozzle 90 either
remains in the vent 60 or flows into the vat 7, described in
greater detail elsewhere herein.
[0029] Still referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in this embodiment, the
vent 60 is attached to the vat 7 by coupling the vent tube 70 to a
vat tube 55. Vat tube 55 is connected at its bottom end to the top
wall 10 of the vat 7. A flange 56 is connected to the top end of
the vat tube 55. Flange 56 sits below a cooperating flange 71 that
is connected to the bottom of vent tube 70, and a seal 58 sits
between the flanges 56, 71 of the vat and vent tubes 55, 70,
respectively. A lower surface of flange 56 and an upper surface of
flange 71 are angled toward each other. Correspondingly, a
cross-sectional profile shape of the flanges 56, 71 together is
wedge-shaped, tapering down from a thicker portion adjacent the vat
and vent tubes 55, 70, respectively, to a thinner portion that is
radially furthest from the vat and vent tubes 55, 70, respectively.
A clamp 57 (FIG. 5) fits around and engages both of the flanges 56,
71 and pushes them toward each other to compress the seal 58 to
provide a liquid-tight joint between the vat and vent tubes 55, 70,
respectively. Removal of the clamp 57 from the flanges 56, 71
allows the vent 60 to be detached from the vat 7 by lifting the
vent away from the vat tube 55.
[0030] Still referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in this embodiment, a
lower portion 72 of the vent tube 70 extends upwardly from the
flange 71, toward the canister 80. Lower portion 72 has a solid
side wall 73 which ensures that the vented fluid flows in a
generally longitudinal direction through the lower portion 72,
without escaping the confines of the lower portion 72 of the vent
tube 70.
[0031] An upper portion 75 of the vent tube 70 connects to and
extends upwardly from the lower portion 72. The upper portion 75 in
this embodiment has a length that is over half of the overall
length of the vent tube 70, the upper portion 75 being about four
times longer than the lower portion 72. In another embodiment, the
upper portion 75 may be about two times longer than the lower
portion 72. A side wall 76 of upper portion 75 is perforated with
openings 77 that extend entirely through the thickness of the side
wall 76 and that are spaced at substantially equal distances from
each other to provide a matrix or array of openings 77 that define
the perforation(s).
[0032] The perforated side wall 76 of the upper portion 75 of the
vent tube 70 allows the vented fluid that flows out of the lower
portion 72 to flow in both a generally longitudinal direction
through the upper portion 75 and also in a generally radial
direction out of the openings 77. In so doing, a portion of the
vented fluid flows through the entire length of the upper portion
75 and exits out of the vent tube 70 through an opening defined at
an upper perimeter edge of the upper portion 75 with its further
longitudinal flow being impeded by the overlying lid 100. The rest
of the vented fluid diffuses and radially flows through the
openings 77 of the perforated side wall, with its further radially
directed flow being impeded by the canister 80.
[0033] Still referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, canister 80 includes a
solid side wall 81 that extends concentrically around the vent tube
70, so as to define an annular passage 78 between the vent tube 70
and the canister 80. The annular passage 78 provides a path through
which the vented fluid flows in a longitudinal direction while
exiting the vent 60, after flowing in the radial direction into the
annular passage 78 from the vent tube 70. A diameter of the flow
path through the vent 60 which is defined by the solid side wall
segments that radially restrict flow through the vent 60, namely,
the side walls 73 and 81, has a step-change increase in which the
relatively smaller diameter of the side wall 73 of the vent tube
lower portion 72 increases to a relatively larger diameter of the
side wall 81 of the canister 80. Such diameter increase occurs
generally at a lower wall 82 of the canister 80.
[0034] Lower wall 82 of the canister 80 has an annular perimeter
shape and extends radially between the vent tube 70 and canister
side wall 81. Lower wall 82 connects the canister side wall 81 to
the vent tube 70 at a location that generally defines a division
line between the solid and perforated side walls 73, 76,
respectively, of the upper and lower portions 72, 75, respectively,
of the vent tube 70.
[0035] In this embodiment, the canister lower wall 82 is slanted,
extending angularly with respect to the tube and canister side
walls 73, 76, 81. This provides the annular passage 78 with
different depths at different locations about the perimeter of the
vent tube 70. A collection chamber 85 is defined by a space between
respective portions of the slanted lower wall 82, vent tube 70, and
canister side wall 81 that can collect condensate that condenses
out of the vented fluid and/or cleaning fluid that is delivered out
of nozzle 90.
[0036] The particular volume of condensate, cleaning fluid, or
other liquid that the collection chamber 85 holds is determined at
least in part by (i) the width of the lower wall 82 and thus the
radial distance between the vent tube 70 and canister 80, and (ii)
the particular location of the division line between the solid and
perforated side walls 73, 76, respectively, of the upper and lower
portions 72, 75, respectively, of the vent tube 70 and thus a
maximum height at which contents in the collection chamber 85 can
be held and over which the contents will spill through the openings
77 of the perforated side wall 76 and run down the inside of vent
tube 70 and into the vat 7. In this embodiment, the diameter of the
canister 80 is about 25 percent larger than the diameter of the
vent tube 70, although it is understood that any other satisfactory
differential may be employed. Also in this embodiment, the division
line between the solid and perforated side walls 73, 76,
respectively, of the upper and lower portions 72, 75, respectively,
of the vent tube 70 extends orthogonally with respect to a
longitudinal axis of the vent tube 70, whereby the division line is
not slanted like the orientation of the canister lower wall 82. In
another embodiment, the division line between the solid and
perforated side walls 73, 76, respectively, of the upper and lower
portions 72, 75, respectively, of the vent tube 70 may extend
parallel to the canister lower wall 82.
[0037] Still referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, regardless of the
particular location of the division line between the solid and
perforated side walls 73, 76, respectively, of the upper and lower
portions 72, 75, respectively, of the vent tube 70, the collection
chamber 85 includes a drain 87 that extends though the canister
side wall 81. The drain 87 of this embodiment is provided at a
location upon the canister side wall 81 that corresponds to a
deepest portion of the annular passage 78 and thus at the bottom of
the collection chamber 85. The drain 87 allows removal of
condensate, including liquid and non-liquid materials that may be
suspended in the vented fluid, the cleaning fluid, and/or other
substances that may collect in the collection chamber 85, to be
removed from the vent 60. Still referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the
cleaning fluid that may collect in the collection chamber 85 is
that which is delivered from nozzle 90 during a clean-in-place
procedure. Nozzle 90 is positioned with respect to the vat system 5
so that its opening(s) 91 directs cleaning fluid into the vent 60
while the vent remains attached to the vat 7. FIG. 6 shows another
nozzle 90 that is mounted to the top wall 10 of the vat and has
openings 91 provided about its outer surface so as to direct
cleaning fluid in multiple directions, so that some of the cleaning
fluid may enter the bottom opening of the vat tube 55 and may
deflect into the vent 60.
[0038] Still referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in this embodiment, toward
the top of the vent 60, one of the nozzles 90 that can spray
cleaning fluid is mounted fully inside of the vent 60. This nozzle
90 is positioned below an upper edge of the vent body 62 and is
substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the vent 60 and
thus concentrically inside of the perforated side wall 76 of the
upper portion 75 of vent tube 70. With the nozzle 90 mounted in
this position with respect to the perforated side wall 76, the
discrete streams of cleaning fluid leaving the openings 91 can be
split into more streams that deflect in different directions while
being sprayed through the openings 77 of the perforated side wall
76, diffusing the cleaning fluid and spreading out its application
through the vent 60.
[0039] Referring now to FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the nozzle 90
is mounted to and suspended from the lid 100 with a nozzle tube 92.
The nozzle tube 92 extends through a flange that is raised above
the rest of the lid 100 with a tube segment that extends above and
below the lid 100. An end of the nozzle tube 92 that is outside of
the vent 60 has a flange that couples to a corresponding flange of
a cleaning fluid supply line 95, allowing such flanges to be
uncoupled from each other to separate the nozzle tube 92 from the
cleaning fluid supply line 95 while leaving the nozzle tube 92
connected to the lid 100. The cleaning fluid supply line 95 is
connected to a known clean-in-place system (including suitable
plumbing components, hardware components, and controls) that is
configured to deliver cleaning fluid for automatically spraying
down predetermined surfaces within the vat system 5.
[0040] Referring again to FIGS. 5 and 6, the lid 100 is dished out,
presenting a convex upper surface and a concave lower surface, with
a lower lip 102 provided at a lower portion 105 of the lid 100 and
extending downwardly from its outer perimeter. The lid 100 is
positioned with respect to the vent body 62 such that (i) vented
fluid that flows out of the vat 7 can flow between the vent body 62
and the lid 100 so that the vented fluid can exit the vent 60, and
(ii) cleaning fluid that is delivered out of the nozzle 90 cannot
flow between the vent body 62 and the lid 100 so that the cleaning
fluid remains in the vent body 62 or flows into the vat 7. The lip
102 of the lower portion 105 longitudinally overlaps at least part
of an upper end of the vent body 62 and is transversely spaced from
the upper end of the vent body 62. A lid upper portion 110 is
spaced longitudinally from the upper end of the vent body 62.
[0041] The lid 100 of this embodiment is maintained in this
overlying and longitudinally and radially-spaced relationship with
respect to the vent body 62 by spring clips 120. In this
embodiment, the spring clips 120 are connected to and extend
upwardly from an upper edge of the vent tube 70. Spring clips 120
are bent and generally L-shaped and have an upright segment that
aligns with the vent tube 70 and a horizontal segment that engages
an inner circumferential surface of a collar 125.
[0042] Still referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, collar 125 is connected to
and extends down from a lower surface of the lid 100 and is spaced
radially inside of an outer perimeter of the lid 100. The collar
125 is positioned concentrically between the vent tube 70 and
canister 80 when viewed from a top plan view. In this embodiment,
the collar 125 extends downwardly from the lid 100 to a height
along the vent 60 at which upper edges of the vent tube 70 and
canister 80 are provided. In another embodiment, the collar 125
extends relatively further down, between the vent tube 70 and
canister 80, and thus into the annular passage 78. Regardless of
how far the collar 125 extends from the lid 100 in any particular
embodiment, the collar 125 is positioned with respect to the nozzle
90 and the lid 100 so that some of the cleaning fluid that is
delivered out of the nozzle 90 is deflected by the collar 125 into
the annular passage 78, preventing such cleaning fluid from exiting
the vent 60. The collar 125 thus cooperates with the upper end of
vent tube 70 and the upper end of canister 80 to define a
serpentine path between the interior of the vent tube 70 and the
exterior of canister 80, which allows passage of air into and out
of vat 7 and also functions to ensure that cleaning fluid from
nozzle 90 does not escape from vent 60 other than through
collection chamber 85 at the lower end of annular passage 78.
[0043] Various alternatives and embodiments are contemplated as
being within the scope of the following claims particularly
pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as
the invention.
* * * * *